Conveyer



l'.lmn. 1.4, 1930. R. l.. BROWN\ 'I CONVEYER Fil'eq Dec. 29. 19,26

fs sheets-sheet 1 INVEN TOR. 2055427' .v/., /ea mv ATTORNEYS.

R. L. BROWN Jah. 14, 1930.

CONVEYER Filed Dec w @5N n l w www vBY Law? Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE l ROBERT Il. BROWN, OE' MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE HARNISCFEGER CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CONVEYER Application filed December 29, 1926. Serial No. 157,646.

This invention relates in general to trenching machines and more particularly to an improved spoil conveyer for trenching machines.

j L Among the objects of the invention are to provide a spoil conveyer which maybe readily, easily and quickly converted from a straight'type orfree hinge type to the so called cradle type; to provide a spoil conveyer of this character which may be quickly shifted laterally on one side of the machine or from one side of the machine to the other without involving laborious and time consuming bolting and unbolting or dismantling or drive changing operations and without subjecting the parts of the conveyer or the shifting means to heavy or sudden strains; to provide a conveyer of this character which has the advantages mentioned and which also has the capacity of elevating the spoils so as to load a truck or accomplish any other purpose involving the elevation of the spoil and this, even when the conveyer has been shifted in; to provide a spoil conveyer which may be readily, quickly and easily hoisted to any practical height at 'which it may be desirable to discharge the spoil or elevated to an upright position when the trenching machine is traveling from place to place; to provide a spoil conveyer having a single frame member made up of a plurality of sections connected together by releasably lockable hinges; Ato providey a novel chain shifting mechanism having yieldable connection with the frame of the spoil conveyer and serving to impart the proper shifting movement to the same in various angular adjustments on the sections thereof while permitting the spoil conveyer to be supported at two spaced points and compensating for the differential resulting from the conveyer frame breaking at a hinge center not concentric with the link pin of the Ashift chain; to provide a spoil conveyer which is 'held against upward or lateral displace- 'mentas well as properly supported; to prov vide arspoil conveyer in which the spilling :of the spoil is minimized and in which any spoil spilled is deflected-away from the op- `erating parts of the conveyer; and in general l5,0 .to provide a spoil conveyer which is simple,

strong, durable and rigid in construction.,y

which is easily and Vquickly controlledand adjusted, which is reliableand effective in operation, and which is easy andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture. v Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction,.ar rangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and particularly set out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which: Figure l Vis a view in side elevation showing a trenching machine having a spoil conveyer embodying the presentginvent'ion embodied therein. i Y Figure 2 is a. view in a transverse vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view o f the spoil conveyer, parts being shown in sections.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the conveyer and its mounting showing the same partly in elevation and partly in central vertical longitudinal section, and v Figure 5 is a view in section on line 5.-5 of Figure 4l.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 designates generally a trenching machine. 'This machine is well known in the art and .the buckets 2 of its digging means discharges the spoil'or dirt onto a spoil conveyer designated generally at 3 and which extends trans'- versely of the trenching machine to deliver the spoil or dirt to the desired point laterally of the trenching machine.

The conveyer 3 comprises a single frame member designated generally at et and which extends longitudinally and centrally of the conveyer structure generally and is made up of a plurality of sections 5 of substantially inverted channel shape in cross section. Preferably fouresections 5 are embodied in the embodiment of the invention illustrated. Hinges designated generally at 6 are provided for hingedly connecting the adjacent ends of adjacent sections, whereby the seci,

tions of the frame may be adjusted angularly relative to each other.

Each hinge 6 comprises a pair of hinge members designated at 7 and 8. The hinge member 7 has an attaching portion 9 which engages and is secured to its section of the framemember. Apertured hinge ears 10 are integrally formed with the attaching portion l9 of the member 7 -and rearwardly of the hinge ears 10 apertured lock lugs 11are provided, the lock lugs 11 being integral with the apertured hinge ears 10 and with the attaching portion 9. The member 8 also has an attaching portion 13 suitably secured to its section 5 of the frame of the conveyer .and at each side of the attaching portion 13 integral s ideplates 14 are provided, the lplates 14 hav-ing inwardly projecting apertured bosses or hinge ears 15 which are transverse- .zo ly alined with the hinge ears 10. Beyond the hinge ears 15 the side plates 14 are apertured to provide-lock lugs 16 cooperable with the Alock lugs 11,. A hinge pin 17 is extended through the alined openings of the hinge ears 19 and 15 of each hinge and is suitably secured and vheld against displacement as by means of cotter vpins, whereby members 7 and 8 of eachV hinge are pivotally connected. As w-ill :be understood, from Figuresr2 and 4, the lock lugs 11 and 16 have a plurality of openings 18 and 19 therein, the openings being designed to be selectively registered. As these openings 18 and 19 are located at dif- Iferent distances from the axis of the hinges 'and at different angular intervals about the hinge, the sections of the frame of the conveyer may be and are locked in the desired angular positions relative to each other by insert-ing a lock pin 20 through one or the other sets of alined vopenings of the lock lugs of the hinges. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, the lock pin 20 is inserted through the openi-ngs 18 and holds the section 5 in one angular adjustment. By taking this lock pin 20 out of the openings 18, bringing the openings 19 into alinement or registration and inserting the lock pin 20 into the registering openings-19 these sections may be secured in al ldifferent angular adjustment. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the sections 5 of the frame `may be locked in a straight position or at a racticalworking angle. The lock pin 20 is formed with an offset end portion 21 const-itut-ing a handle member and this handle member together with a cotter pin 22 serves to. releasably secure the hinges 6 and sections 5. locked in theselected adjustment. One of the advantageous features of this construction` resides in the fact that the lock pin 2O may be quickly and easily removed and reinsertjed, thereby making the conveyer adjustment convenient and expeditious.

Asabove stated, and as clearly shown in Figure 5, the frame of the conveyer is generally of inverted channel shape and has a body portion 25, depending side flanges 26 and inturned ribs 27 extending along the lower edges of the flanges 26. The body portion and side flanges 26 are preferably integral and the ribs 27 may be integral with the side flanges 26 or may be separate pieces welded to the side flanges. These ribs 271 have the desirable and necessary extent along their flanges 26 but at intervals they may be c ut away. A support is provided for the conveyer frame and consists of a pair of frame members 28 which are preferably angles and which are secured to the upper ends of standards or uprights 29, the lower ends of which uprights 29 are fastened to the frame members 30 of the trencher. Fixed supporting shafts 31 are carried by the frame members 28, the shafts 31 being located adjacent the ends of the frame members and extending transversely therebetween. On each shaft 31 a pair of supporting rollers 32 is rotatably mounted. Each roller .32 has a hub 33 and on these hubs the lower edges of the flanges 26 and the ribs 27 bear, whereby .the'frame of the conveyer is supported. Each roller 32 also hasv a peripheral flange 34 and the flanges 34 of the rollers bear against the outer face of the flanges 26 of the frame, whereby to prevent lateral displacement of the frame. The frame is held down on the hubs 33 of the rollers 32 by-means of rollers 35 engaging the upper faces of the ribs 27 and mounted to rotate about an axis fixed with respect to the shafts 31. Preferably these rollers 35 are rotatably mounted on supports 36, clamped, as at 37, to the shafts 31. The rollers 32 are held against lateral displacement by means of sleeves 38 mounted on the shafts 31 and interposed between the rollers and the frame members 28. A sleeve 39 is mounted on each shaft 31 and interposed between the supports 36. In this way spaced points of support are provided for the conveyer and the conveyer is rfree to partake of-proper shifting movement while being properly supported against upward or lateral as well as downward displacement. 1

At each end of the conveyer frame a reinforcing plate 40 is secured. Across each end of the frame 4 a transversely extending channel 41 is provided, each channel 41 being secured in position by a connecting angle 42, suitablyl secured to the plate 40, the frame 4 and the channel 41. Transversely extending anglesv 43 may also be provided to afford a means of attachment for a hoist line 90 and to stiffen and strengthen the conveyer frame.

On each channel 41, brackets 44 are pro.- vided and on these brackets 44 a sha-ft 45 is rotatably supported. Y Each shaft 45 has fixed thereto a conveyer mounting and driving drum 46. Around the drums 46 an endless conveyer member or belt 47 extends. Toenhance the ydriving engagement ofthe drums 46 with the belt 47 they are of general convex form in that they are largest at their centers and taper toward their ends. For the major portion of its extent, however1 the upper run of the conveyer belt 47 is transversely dished to provide a trough like conveyer which minimizes spilling of the spoil. This trough-like form of the body of the upper runof the conveyer belt is obtained by providing belt supporting roller assemblies 48 at spaced intervals along the frame 4 of the conveyer. Each roller assembly 48 comprises a pair of supporting brackets 49 in which a center shaft 50 and lateral shafts 51 are fixed. The shaft 50 is horizontal but the shafts 51 incline upwardly and out-wardly from the shaft 50. A' central horizontal roller 52 is mounted for free rotation and on the shaft 51 end rollers 53 are mounted for free rotation on the shafts 51.` The end rollers incline upwardly and outwardly from the horizontal center roller and t-hus dish or concave the upper run of the conveyer belt to provide a conveyer of trough like form.

The lower run of the conveyer belt passes below the guide rollers 54 and above guide rollers 54a as shown in Figure 4.

Means is provided for driving the conveyer in any adjustment thereof and this means comprises an endless sprocket chain 55 trained Y over sprocket wheels 56 fixed to the shafts 45. The upper run of the sprocket chain 55 passes over a drive sprocket 57 and under guide pulleys 58 arranged on the opposite sides of the guide sprockets 59. The lower run of the sprocket chain 55 meshes with a lo-vver sprocket 59 which serves to take up the slack in the lower run and prevent whipping thereof.

Means is provided for shifting the conveyer frame longitudinally irrespective of the angular adjustment of its sections. This means comprises a sprocket chain 6() having its ends yieldably connected as indicated generally at 61 to the ends of the conveyer frame 4 and having its intermediate portion running under guide pulleys 62 and over a drive sprocket 63. The guide pulleys 62 are rotatably mounted on fixed supporting shafts 64 carried by the frame members 28, sleeves 65 being loosely mounted on the shafts 64 and interposed between the pulleys 62 and the frame members 28 for preventing lateral displacement of the pulleys on their shafts. The drive sprocket 63 is fixed to a rotatable shaft 66 mounted on suitable bearings provided therefor in the frame members 28 and driven in either direction from the usual or a suitable source of power and by means of suitable gearing. Two of the gears employed to drive the shafts 66 are shown at 67.

Each yieldable connection 61 between the ends of the chain 60 and the ends of the conveyer frame comprises a pair of rollers 70 rotatably mounted on a pin 71 pivotally connected to the adj acent end link of the chain 60 and to the bifurcated and apertured head of a sliding bolt 72. The roller 70 rides back and forth on tracks 73 provided by brackets fastened to the conveyer frame and shaped as shown in Figure 5. The shank of the sliding bolt 72 is slidably fitted in an opening provided therefor in a bracket 74 fixed to the conveyer frame just beyond the tracks 73. A coil spring 75 encircles the bolt 72 and has one end abutting the bracket 74 and its other end abutting a nut and washer 76 adjustablyj e mounted on the bolt 72. Each spring 75 is tensioned to draw its bolt 7 2 outwardly through the guide 74 whereby to tension the chain 60 and yet this spring 75 may yield to some extent to absorb drive shocks and to sides of the upper run is thrown clear of the conveyer by means of deflectors 80 extending along the sides of the conveyer and supported on brackets 81 as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

With a spoil c-onveyer of this character the section of the conveyer frame may be locked to provide a substantially straight line conveyer or they may be locked in a position to provide a cradle type of conveyer and this conversion may be easily and quickly carried out. As shown in Figure 2, the hoist line 90 is connected as at 91 to'apertured attaching lugs provided on the angle 43 adjacent the outer end of the conveyer frame. The hoist line is reeved in the usual manner over suitable guide pulleys and around a suitable winding drum. By locking the hinges to secure the sections 5 of the frame 4 in proper angular relation` and disconnecting the hoist line 90, the conveyer is converted into a cradle type. By using the hoist line and leaving at least one end free the conveyer can be hoisted to a practical height for discharging the spoil or may be swung to an upright position for travel. All of these adjustments and operations can be carried out quickly and easily and without and dismantling or laborious and time consuming bolting and unbolting. Vhen the conveyer is shifted in, it is entirely practical to load trucks or otherwisedis-V charge the spoilat a comparatively high ele` vation and, as there are a number of hinge points, the conveyer frame can be raised quickly to clear obstructions even when shifted'in. These advantages are had and yet theconveyer is supported at two spaced points of support.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the particular frame construction which is located centrally under the conveyer belt. This frame construction is adapted to VIl() Vreleasable means for locking the sections in the machine.

theuse of the roller assembly which forms v-atrough-like upper run for the major portion of the extent of the upper run, thereby mini- `mizing the spilling of the spoil. Moreover,

any spoil vkthat is spilled is deflected clear of This is an important advantage when it is considered that serious trouble vhas been experienced by reason of dirt or spoil get-ting between the belt and the conveyer frame. Vhen such dirt or spoil gets wet it clings to the underside of the belt and acts as a lubricant diminishing the friction between the driving drums and the belt which results in the 'belt slipping upon the drums and which impairs'the capacity of the belt to convey away the spoil. The shifting means for the conveyer frame employing as it does a chain and yieldable connections betweenthe chain andthe conveyer frame makes it possible and 4practical to support the frame in almost any convenient or proper way, support it at two points to obtain stability and rigidity, and to raise the conveyer to any angle or elevate it to an upright position, and withal maintain rtheproper mesh of the shifting members.

The invention claimed is:

l. A spoil yconveyer' for trenching machines comprising a frame member made vup of a plurality of-sections, means for hingedly connecting the sections, readily releasable means radapted to lock any number of the sections in adjusted angular position relative to each other and also adapted to leave any number of the sections free, means for supporting the frame member for longitudinal shifting, means for shifting the frame, an endless yconveyer member mounted on the frame, means for driving the endless conveyer member and a hoist line releasably connected with the outer end of the frame.

2. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising a single frame member made up of a plurality of sections, means for hingedly rconnecting said sections, lreadily .of aplurality of sections, means for hingedly connecting adjacent ends of sections together, readily releasable means for securing the adjacent ends of the sections in adjusted rangular relation, means connected with thel frame member for shifting the same longitudinally, an endless conveyer member mounted on theframe, and means for driving the endless conveyer member mall positions `ofthe spoil conveyer.

4. Aespoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising a'frame member made up of a plufrality of sections, means for hingedly connecting the sections, readily releasable means adapted to lock any-number of the sections in adjustedi'angular position relative to each other and also adapted to leave any number ing element having yieldable connections with the frame member, a gear-eleinent for actuating the flexible shifting element, an endless conveyer member mounted. on the frame, means for driving the endless conveyer member, and a hoist line releasably connected With the outer end of the frame member.

5. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising a frame member made up of a plurality of sections, hinges connecting the adj acent ends of the sections, each hinge being made up'of apair of hinge members pivotally connected together, a removable lock pin cooperable with each pair of hinge members for locking the sections thereof in any one of a plurality of angular adjustments, each lock pin when removed leavingits hinge members free and the sections associated with such hinge members free to partake of relative pivotal movement, means for supporting. the frame member for longitudinal shifting movement, a sprocket chain extending longitudinally of the frame, yieldable connections between the sprocket chain and .the frame, a driving sprocket Wheel ineslied with the chain and mounted to. rotate about an axis fixed with respect to the frame, an endless conveyer member mounting on the frame, means for driving the endless conveyer inember, and a hoist line releasably connected with the frame. j

6. A spoil `conveyer for trenching machines Y comprising a frame member made up of a plurality of sections, hinges connecting the adj acent ends of the sections each hinge being made up of a pair ofhinge members pivotally connected together, a removable lockpin cooperable with each pair of'hinge members for locking the sections thereof in any one of a plurality of angular adjustments, each lock pin when removed, leaving its hinge members free and the sections associated with suchf hinge members free to partake of relative pivotal movement, means engaging the frame memberat spacedpoints for supportingthe frame member for Alongitudinal shifting movement, a sprocket chain extending longitudinally of the'frame, yieldable connection between the sprocket chain and t-he` franie,a driving sprocket wheel meshed with the chain and mounted to rotate about an axis fixed with respect to the frame, an4 endless lconveyer member mounted on the frame, means for driving the endless conveyer member', and a hoist line releasably connected with the frame.

7. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising an endless conveyer belt, a single frame member extending longitudinally and centrally of the conveyer belt and having means for supporting and driving the belt, the side edges of the frame being spaced inwardly from the side edges of the conveyer.

8. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising an endless conveyer belt, a single frame member extending longitudinally and centrally of the conveyer belt and having means for supporting and driving the belt, the side edges of the frame being spaced inwardly from the side edges of the conveyer, and deflectors mounted on the conveyer frame but spaced outwardly therefrom and extending downwardly and outwardly adjacent the side edges of the belt.

9. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising a conveyer belt, a single frame member extending longitudinally of the belt intermediate of the side edges thereof, means at the ends of the frame member for mounting and driving the belt, and roller assembly at spaced intervals along the frame and engaging the upper run of the' belt, each roller assembly including a central roller and upwardly and outwardly extending lateral rollers, all mounted on the single frame member, whereyby to give the upper run of the belt a troughlike form.

10. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising a single frame member made up of a plurality of sections, means for hingedly connecting the sections, readily releasable means for locking the sections in angular adjustments, a support for the frame having means engaging the same at spaced points, and an` endless conveyer member mounted on the frame, means for driving the endless conveyer member, and means for shifting the frame back and forth and including a chain with yieldable connections between the chain and frame, and a driving sprocket wheel meshed with the chain and rotatably mounted on the support of thel conveyer. f

11. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines having an endless belt, a shiftable frame member, a flexible shifting member located within the confines of and protected by the endless belt and' connected with the frame member and power means coacting with the flexible shifting member for moving it to shift the frame member back and forth.

12. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines having a frame member made up of adjustable sections and releasable means for locking the section in various angular adjustments, a flexible shifting member having yieldable connections with the frame member, and means coacting with the flexible locking the section in various angular adjust# ments, means engaging the frame member at spaced points to support the frame member for back and forth movement, a flexible shifting member having yieldable connections with the frame member, and means coacting with the flexible shifting member for shifting the frame member back and forth.

15. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines having a frame member and means for shifting the frame member back and forth and comprising a flexible' shiftingmember, means for driving the same and yieldable connections between flexible shifting member and the conveyer frame.

16. A spoil conveyer for trenchingl machines comprising a frame andmeans for shifting the frame back and forth including a. sprocket cha-in located intermediate the side edges of the frame, means for driving the sprocket chain including a sprocket wheel meshed therewith, and connections between the ends of the chain and the frame.

17. A spoil conveyer` for trenching machines comprising a frame, means for shifting the frame back andV forth including a sprocket chain, means for driving the intermediate portion of suchsprocket chain and connections between the endsof the sprocket chain and the frame, said connections including slidable members mounted on the frame, springs .for biasing the slidingmembers to one position, cooperating rollers and tracks for constraining thek slidable members to straight line movement, the ends of the chain being connected to the slidable members.

18. A spoil yconveyer for trenching machines comprising a frame, means for shifting the frame back and forth including a sprocket chain, means for driving the intermediate portion of such sprocket chain and having direct supporting engagement with the frame member proper to maintain it against downward displacement while permitting the same to move back and forth, means preventing lateral displacement of the frame memberwhile permitting it to move `back and forth, means preventing upward displacement of the frame member while permitting it to move back and forth and a conveyer belt mounted on said frame member and having its runs encompassing the several means. p

20. A spoil conveyer for trenching ma.-

"chines comprising a frame member, rollers having direct supporting engagement with fthe frame member proper to maintain it against downward displacement andhaving peripheral flanges preventing lateral displacement of the same, and means preventing upward displacementof the frame member.

2l'. A, spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising a single framev member of channel shape, supporting shafts spaced from each other in the direction ofthe length of `the frame member and extending transversely. of the frame member below the same means on said shafts supporting the frame member againstv downward Vd isplacement while permitting the same to move back and forth, means on said shafts preventing lateral displacement of the conveyer while permitting it to move back and forth, means on said shafts to prevent upward displacement of the conveyer while permitting it to move back and forth,an endless conveyerbelt, andmeans at the ends of the frame member for supporting and driving said belt, `said belt'havf ing'itsllower run extending below said shafts.

fgage, and also having peripheral flanges en- Jgageable with the flanges of theframe to preventk lateral displacement, means cooperablewith the inturned ribs to hold the frame on its support. ,r

23. A spoil. conveyer for trenching machines comprising a frame member of sub- V.stantially inverted channel shape in cross section, said frame member having a body v. portion and depending side anges Y formed withinturned ribs, fixed supporting vshafts spaced from each other in the direction of Vthe length of the frame member, rollers on said: shafts having hubs engaged with the underside ofthe ribs and the lower edges of the side flanges, said rollers having peripheralflanges engaged with the outer faces of the side ianges, supports fixed'to the shafts,

and rollers mounted on the supports and engaging the upper faces or the ribs.

24. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising a frame member of substantially inverted channel shape in 'cross' section, said frame member having'a body portion and depending side flanges formed with inturned ribs, fixed supporting shafts spaced from each other in the direction of the length of the frame member, means on said shafts supporting the'frameA member against downward displacement while permitting the same to move back and forth,` means on said shafts to prevent lateral displacement ofthe frame member while permitting the same to move back. and forth, supports fixed tothe shafts, and rollers mounted'on the supports and engaging the upper faces of the ribs.

25. A spoil conveyer for trenehingmachines having a single frame memberof channel shape and having a body portion and side flanges provided with ribs, andl means coacting with the side flanges and ribs to constrain. the frame member to bachi and forthmovement.

26. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising an endless conveyer belt, a single frame member ofchannel shape in cross section extending longitudinally and centrally of theconveyer belt and having a means at its ends for supporting anddriving the conveyer belt, the V'sides of the frame being spaced inwardly from the side edges'of the conveyer. Y

27. A spoil conveyer for trenching machines comprising anrendless conveyer belt, a single frame member of channelvshapein cross section extending longitudinally, and

centrally of the conveyer belt-and having a means at its ends for supportingfand 4driving the conveyer belt, the sides of the frame being spacedinwardly from theside edges of the conveyer, said frame beingmade up of a plurality of sections, hingespivotallycon necting the sections and readily, releasable locking means cooperable with the hinges for securing different angular adjustments.

28; A spoil conveyer fortrenching machines comprising an'endless conveyer. belt,y a single frame memberof channel shape in cross`sectioni extending longitudinallyY and centrally of the conveyerybelt, and havingja means at its ends for supporting and-driving the conveyery belt, the sides of the frame being spaced inwardly from the side edges of the-conveyer, means coacting with ythe channelshaped frame to support: it against upwardor lateral as Wellas downwarddisplacement, andmeansforshifting the frameH on its support.

29. A spoil conveyer) for trenchingfmachines comprising a Vframe member made u p ofv a plurality of sections connected to each other for relative angularadjustment, readily releasable means adapted to lock any number of the sections in any one of a plurality of adjusted angular positions relative to each other, an endless conveyer mounted on the frame and operable tliereabout with the frame sections in various adjustments, and means operable to drive the endless conveyer with the sections thereof in any selected adjustment.

30. A spoil eonveyer for trenching machines comprising a frame member made up of a plurality of sections, hinges pivotally connecting the sections for relative angular adj ustment, readily releasable locking means adapted to secure any number of the sections in adjusted angular position relative to each other, and an endless conveyer member mounted on the frame and operable thereabout with the sections of the frame member secured in various adjustments.

In Witness whereof, I hereto ax my signature.

ROBERT L. BROWN. 

